Blockchain network as a platform: conceptualising its adapted layered architecture design

Digital platform as an organising logic has prominently reshaped the innovation activities in many sectors. Previous studies have extensively investigated the digital platforms from two views: economic view (i.e. as a sided marketplace) and engineering view (i.e. as an innovation infrastructure). Blockchain – a digital artefact that connects the distributed ledgers – resembles great overlaps and specifics to digital platforms. Building on this aspect, I first demarcate the Blockchain Product as a Platform (BPaaP) informed by the economic view and the Blockchain network as a platform (BNaaP) inspired by the engineering view. Given the scant of research around BNaaP, this research aims to depict the BNaaP’s architectural design by drawing on the layered design of digital technologies. Using Ping An Group as a case, this research applies the thematic analysis method in analysing online open data. As the main contribution, this research proposes the Adapted Layered Architecture of BNaaP that consists of (1) three design layers (foundation layer, interaction layer, and application layer); (2) adapted business scenarios; and (3) environmental factors. The suggested architectural design implies the BNaaP’s internal synergistic collaboration among layers and the external adaptability to different business contexts. Overall, this research provides a novel angle to understand the Blockchain phenomenon and brings insightful implications to Blockchain practitioners.